Remote diagnosis and central fault evaluation method of decentralized electric devices, and decentralized electronic device

ABSTRACT

A method for remote diagnosis and central error evaluation of decentralized electronic devices ( 1 ) with an integrated telecommunications device ( 3 ) has the following steps:  
     a) storing information about malfunctions of a decentralized electronic device ( 1 ) in a diagnosis memory ( 6 ) of the electronic device ( 1 );  
     b) making a telecommunications connection of the electronic device ( 1 ) with a central error evaluation station ( 7 ), controlled by the user of the electronic device ( 1 );  
     c) transmitting error data from the diagnosis memory ( 6 ) to the central error evaluation station ( 7 );  
     d) evaluating the error data in the central error evaluation station ( 7 ).

[0001] The invention relates to a method for remote diagnosis andcentral error evaluation of decentralized electrical devices, with anintegrated telecommunications device. It also relates to a decentralizedelectronic device with an integrated telecommunications device.

[0002] As examples of decentralized electrical devices with anintegrated telecommunications device, so-called radiophones re known,which are a combination of a car radio and a GSM telephone in the samehousing. Interlinked driver information systems, in the form of acombined navigation system and mobile phone, for use in motor vehiclesare also known.

[0003] Such systems are quite complex and have numerous functionalitiescooperating with one another. The problem in the development andoperation of such combined electrical devices is that because of theircomplexity, they cannot be tested completely in the laboratory; instead,new technical problems can arise when they are used in the field.

[0004] Usually, the errors that occur become known to the manufactureronly from complaints and returns of the devices involved, and at themanufacturer, these errors can be statistically evaluated to only alimited extent. The statistical basis for error evaluations is thereforequite small, and the resultant provisions to be taken are limited.Furthermore, the reaction time for eliminating errors andcorrespondingly rebuilding all the electrical devices that are in thefield is too long.

[0005] The object was therefore to create an improved method for remotediagnosis and central error evaluation of decentralized electricaldevices with an integrated telecommunications device as well as acorrespondingly improved decentralized electrical device with anintegrated telecommunications device.

[0006] This object is attained by the method with the steps of claim 1,by means of:

[0007] a) storing information about malfunctions of a decentralizedelectronic device in a diagnosis memory of the electronic device;

[0008] b) making a telecommunications connection of the electronicdevice with a central error evaluation station, controlled by the userof the electronic device;

[0009] c) transmitting error data from the diagnosis memory to thecentral error evaluation station;

[0010] d) evaluating the error data in the central error evaluationstation.

[0011] Thus according to the invention, the information stored in adiagnosis memory of the electrical device is transmitted by theintegrated telecommunications device to a central error evaluationstation, where the information is evaluated. This has the advantage thatin principle a remote diagnosis can be performed for every electronicdevice freely in use in the field, and the information route from theuser of the electronic device to the central error evaluation station isstandardized and shortened considerably. The information about theerrors can then be analyzed quickly by the development unit connected tothe error evaluation station and eliminated.

[0012] By statistical evaluation of the error information, accumulationsof errors can be detected early. Furthermore, the costs of producttesting and repair can be reduced.

[0013] In the method, preferably one or more diagnosis programs storedin the diagnosis memory are executed, and only the error data from thediagnosis memory that have been correspondingly selected by thediagnosis program executed are transmitted from the diagnosis memory. Bythe use of diagnosis programs, the events of diagnosis can bestandardized and made easily usable for the user.

[0014] The results of diagnosis are preferably transmitted back to theelectronic device from the central error evaluation station. In thisway, the costs for repair can be reduced, and an immediate reaction to arequest for diagnosis can be made. This leads to an increase in thequality of the product and to increased customer satisfaction.

[0015] The results of diagnosis can be displayed in the electronicdevice in a known way. Moreover, maintenance of the electronic devicecan be performed by a diagnosis program as a function of the results ofdiagnosis.

[0016] A decentralized electronic device with an integratedtelecommunications device thus, according to the invention, has adiagnosis memory for storing information about malfunctions of theelectronic device. For performing the method described above, thisdevice is embodied such that, under the control of the user of theelectronic device, a telecommunications connection is made with thecentral error evaluation station, and error data from the diagnosismemory are transmitted to the central error evaluation station forevaluation. Because of the user-controlled making of thetelecommunications connection, the user has control over the remotediagnosis, so that access to the electronic device against the wishes ofthe user is not possible.

[0017] The invention is described in further detail below in terms of anexemplary embodiment in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

[0018]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one exemplary embodiment for anelectronic device 1, in the form of a so-called radiophone, that is, acar radio with an integrated mobile radio part in the same housing.

[0019] The electronic device 1 has various system components, such as anAM/FM tuner 2, a telecommunications device 3 in the form of a mobileradio part, a controller 4, and optionally other system components 5.According to the invention, there is an integrated diagnosis memory 6,so that in the event of malfunctions, information accordingly can bestored as error data in the diagnosis memory 6.

[0020] The electronic device 1 is embodied such that under user controlvia the mobile radio part 3, a telecommunications connection is madewith a central error evaluation station 7, and error data from thediagnosis memory 6 are transmitted to the central error evaluationstation 7. The error data are then evaluated in the central errorevaluation station 7, and results of diagnosis are optionallytransmitted back to the electronic. This information can either bedisplayed in the electronic device 1 and/or used for maintenance of theelectronic device 1.

[0021] The making of the connection and the transmission of error datafrom the diagnosis memory 6 are preferably made to only one or morepredefined telephone numbers that cannot be changed by the user. Thismakes the method for remote diagnosis simple and easy to perform andrelatively secure against abuse.

[0022] In the exemplary embodiment shown, a card reader 8 is alsoprovided, for executing special diagnosis programs that are stored on adiagnosis card 9. The diagnosis card 9 serves to make the system secure;not until the diagnosis card 9 is inserted into the card reader 8 arethe functions for making a telecommunications connection with thecentral error evaluation station 7 and for executing various diagnosisprograms stored in the card activated. Diagnosis programs are providedthat enable a selection of regions of the diagnosis memory 6, or inother words a selection of the error data to be transmitted andevaluated. A storage in memory and the display of results of diagnosisare also possible only by means of an inserted diagnosis card 9. In thesame way, maintenance of the electronic device 1 as a function of theresults of diagnosis can be done only in conjunction with the diagnosiscard 9 and a diagnosis program stored in the diagnosis cards 9.

[0023] The diagnosis card 9 is preferably made anonymous, so thatparticularly when error data are transmitted to the central errorevaluation station 7, a user's identity will not be transmitted too.This also assures that for the statistical error evaluation, performedby storing the error data in memory in the central error evaluationstation 7, no personal data will be acquired in the process.

1. A method for remote diagnosis and central error evaluation ofdecentralized electronic devices (1) with an integratedtelecommunications device (3), having the following steps: a) storinginformation about malfunctions of a decentralized electronic device (1)in a diagnosis memory (6) of the electronic device (1); b) making atelecommunications connection of the electronic device (1) with acentral error evaluation station (7), controlled by the user of theelectronic device (1); c) transmitting error data from the diagnosismemory (6) to the central error evaluation station (7); d) evaluatingthe error data in the central error evaluation station (7).
 2. Themethod of claim 1, characterized by executing one or more diagnosisprograms stored in the diagnosis memory (6); transmitting error datafrom the diagnosis memory (6) in accordance with a selection of theerror data that is controlled by the diagnosis program executed;receiving results of diagnosis from the central error evaluation station(7) by means of the electronic device (1).
 3. The method of claim 2,characterized by displaying the results of diagnosis in the electronicdevice (1).
 4. The method of claim 2 or 3, characterized by maintenanceof the electronic device (1) by means of a diagnosis program as afunction of the results of diagnosis.
 5. The method of one of claims2-4, characterized in that the diagnosis programs are stored on aseparate diagnosis card (9), and the method cannot be performed untilthe diagnosis card (9) is read by means of a card reader (8) connectedto the electronic device (1).
 6. A decentralized electronic device (1)with an integrated telecommunications device (3), characterized by adiagnosis memory (6) for storing information about malfunctions of theelectronic device (1), wherein the electronic device (1) is embodied formaking a telecommunications connection of the electronic device (1) witha central error evaluation station (7), controlled by the user of theelectronic device (1), and for transmitting error data from thediagnosis memory (6) to the central error evaluation station (7).
 7. Thedecentralized electronic device (1) of claim 5, characterized bydiagnosis programs, which are stored in the diagnosis memory or in adiagnosis card (9), for selecting the error data transmitted to thecentral error evaluation station (7) and for controlling the datatransmission to the central error evaluation station (7) and forreceiving results of diagnosis from the central error evaluation station(7) by means of the electronic device (1).
 8. The decentralizedelectronic device (1) of claim 6, characterized in that the diagnosisprograms for maintaining the electronic device (1) are embodied as afunction of the results of diagnosis.
 9. The decentralized electronicdevice (1) of claim 7 or 8, characterized by a card reader (8) forreading the error data out from the diagnosis card (9).